Writing well is Thinking well

Do you find it hard to express yourself articulately and hold the audience's attention? Read on.

“On Writing Well” by William Zinsser proposes a few pointers on how to improve it and here is a list of 9 key learnings

1. Write for yourself. Start with drafts; keep rewriting to sharpen the point
2. Choose simple, congruent, and vibrant nouns and verbs
3. Be coherent in the tense, point-of-view, style, and stance throughout the course of the material
4. The first line should lead to the second and then to the third and so on - If you don’t hook the reader, nothing matters. Deliver on the promises
5. Develop the prose like building a pyramid - build a solid foundation and grow brick-by-brick, step-by-step
6. Write with intent; not just stating facts and obvious stories - why does it matter to the reader? People look for meaning beyond what’s written and what’s being - humans are amused by the little nuggets hidden in plain sight - a metaphor or a different perspective?
7. Write about things the non-mundane parts of mundane people and places - humans can relate to those - familiar but new
8. Invoke surprise and curiosity in the reader - think you are on a quest with the reader
9. You have to do the research, research will not come to you - this takes effort and there are no shortcuts

Based on the above 9 principles, we can summarize it further to just 2 sets of 3 core concepts. One set is about the content being mentioned, and the other is about the context in which it is expressed.

1. Simple: Write in a clear and uncomplicated manner, ensuring easy comprehension for a broader audience
2. Sharp: Craft the message with precision, selecting the most fitting words to convey the essence directly and effectively
3. Intentional: Begin with a clear understanding of the desired impact, moving beyond mere facts to purposefully evoke specific emotions or actions in the reader
4. Familiar: Focus on relatable aspects to create a connection, drawing on common experiences and emotions that resonate with the audience
5. Novel: Present ideas uniquely and innovatively, capturing the reader's interest by offering fresh perspectives and unexpected elements
6. Beyond: Dive deeper than surface details, providing hidden insights, metaphors, or alternative perspectives to engage readers on a more profound level

To summarize, here is a one-liner to remember:

Create coherent, intentional, and relatable novelty